Ringlet, the offbeat Cameron Highlands

April 20, 2026By maverickbirdPosted in Asia, Malaysia, Outside India

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The Cameron Highlands provide a breath of fresh air after the muggy, frenetic pace of Kuala Lumpur. Mossy, dew-dripping forests, luxuriant ferns, orchids, waterfalls, rolling hills, and tea plantations – you can find it all, along with a pleasant, cooler weather. However, it is a large area that is extremely popular with the locals and the tourists, and can get very crowded. It encompasses three main small towns: Tanah Rata, Brinchang, and Ringlet. These towns lie along the twisting Route 59 and have distinctive characters. Tanah Rata is more for travellers who love tea plantations, where they can take selfies, visit fruit and flower farms, and go on a few hiking trails. It is the most popular base and has a wide variety of accommodations, including some excellent plantation hotels. Brinchang is for the more earthier lot, and it also has some strawberry and fruit farms. Ringlet town, the smallest of the three, is a dusty little marketplace that is easily overlooked. However, this town and its surroundings offer some of the nicest getaways in the Cameron Highlands if you like to live amidst nature in traditional wooden huts.

Rain Forest Inn at Ringlet

I rarely write about the places where I stay, except to promote a small, privately-run guesthouse or a homestay. However, Rain Forest Inn was so perfect that I simply had to share that experience with you here. This rustic property promises what its name suggests: rainforest, a little river, and peace. It is situated in the Bertam Valley and is surrounded by lush rainforests and cascading waterfalls. Native villages surround it, and you live amidst flowers, fruit trees, exotic orchids, and bird calls. The rooms with ensuite bathrooms are made with natural materials in the local style (huts on stilts), and it includes an outdoor dining area that overlooks the little river that runs through the property. There is a shared kitchen that serves delicious local cuisine, and the dining area is set beside a waterfall. It is a child´s and a nature lover´s paradise, and that is exactly where we decided to spend my son´s 9th birthday. He is a nature lover, and as his birthday present, we gifted him a 4-hour jungle hike and a picnic. Needless to say, he loved it. There´s not much to do at this property, except to hike, relax, unwind, read a book, connect with nature, or swim in the river. On days when the time hangs heavy, you can opt for a trip to visit the local attractions of Cameron Highlands. These include visits to a tea plantation, a strawberry farm, Mossy Forest, and even the further away Lojing Highlands or the Gua Musang to see the rare, foul-smelling Rafflesia flower. We chose to do nothing and just spent time relaxing, unwinding, walking around the native villages with their stilted huts, and connecting with nature. So, if you are interested in this offbeat Cameron Highlands experience, check out the following travel tips.

What are the Cameron Highlands?

Although named after the British explorer Sir William Cameron, a government surveyor who mapped the region back in 1885, Cameron Highlands, it was a local colonial civil servant, Sir George Maxwell, who floated the idea of developing it into a hill station. Soon, wealthy Indian tea planters, Chinese vegetable farmers, and wealthy landowners from the wealthy cities like KL, Ipoh, and Georgetown came in hordes, building fancy weekend retreats and establishing tea plantations. It is situated in central Malaysia, just 200 km north of KL and 4 hours away by bus at an elevation of between 1300 and 1800m above sea level. The towering dark blue, forested peaks of Banjaran Titiwangsa are at its center, and the 700 square kilometres encompass mystical cloud forests and the rolling tea plantations that offer stunning views. However, here and there, great swathes of ugly construction rear their heads, and on weekends, the winding road is a traffic disaster.

Travel Tips

How to Reach

All the Cameron Highlands towns, including Ringlet, are easily accessible from KL, Ipoh, and Penang. Most buses leave from the Bersepadu Selatan Terminal bus station at KL and the most popular companies are Unititi and Cs Travel & Tours. We used 12go.Asia to book the return bus tickets and it was quick and hassle-free. We got off at Ringlet, but stay put if you go further. The last stop is Tanah Rata. Our return tickets for 3 people cost 86 Euros (425 RM) in 2025. The trip takes around 4 hours.

How to Get Around

Public transportation choices are limited in entire Cameron Highlands, and especially in Ringlet. You either hire a local taxi, rent a car or a scooter, or join a tour. It was not a problem for us since we did not do much and the hotel provided pick-up and drop.

Where to Stay in Ringlet

We would always recommend staying at the Rain Forest Inn. However, note that it is not cheap and you will be completely dependent on the hotel for all meals. Breakfast is included in the room rate, but a native lunch and dinner there costs around 170 RM/34 Euros for 3 people. You get delicious, local meals and you can see how they are prepared. The rice comes steamed in fragrant leaves and chicken is often cooked inside bamboo stems. It´s a bit hefty for Asian rates, especially if you stay there longer, but for a few days, it´s worth it. Our 4-hour jungle walk cost 100 RM pp/21 Euros and it came with a small picnic (cup noodles, eggs cooked in leaves baskets, and smoked corn on cob). The 4-hour private tour to visit Mossy Forest (entrance fee Rm30/pax), tea plantation, strawberry farm cost Rm450 and it included only pick up and drop off. As you can see, it was not cheap and you can find cheaper options if you look for guesthouses and resorts in more touristy Tanah Rata.

Things to Do

In Ringlet, there´s not much to do except for jungle walks, village walks, day trips, and relax. If you stay in more populated areas like Tanah Rata, you can visit the tea plantations. The The BOH Tea Centre Sungai Palas is the most famous tea plantation in Malaysia. The drive up there is very picturesque too. Other options include the IG worthy Cameron Valley Tea and the old-fashioned BOH Tea Centre Habu. This is the agricultural belt of Malaysia and there are plenty of strawberry farms to visit. Nowadays, you can also explore the butterfly park at Cameron Highland Butterfly Farm. You can also visit the much hyped Mossy Forest to see picturesque cloud forest draped with lush moss, ferns, and lichens. And if you want a touch of English afternoon tea service, then splurge at Jim Thompson Tea Room at Cameron Highlands Resort. The experience comes with finest tea, exquisite china, scones with real cream, iconic cucumber sandwich, and impeccable service. Check out this excellent blog, if you are interested in more information in hiking trails in Cameron Highlands.